What to Watch This Weekend: November 12, 2021: Clifford, Julia, Red Notice, Pete, Shang-Chi, Apex, Stillwater, Japanese Drama

For A Fun, Family Adventure: Clifford The Big Red Dog (Theaters and Paramount+)
Clifford The Big Red Dog brings the classic kids book to the big screen with a cute CG dog, plenty of humor, and a Clifford size dose of big red heart.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Mouth Watering Documentary: Julia (Theaters)
Julia details the life of the iconic food personality and details how revolutionary she was and her effect on American eating!

For A Hilariously Fun Heist Film: Red Notice (Netflix)

Red Notice takes some of my favorite actors and puts them into a hilarious buddy heist comedy with criminally funny moments.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Politics Junkie: Mayor Pete (Amazon Prime)

Mayor Pete gives an unfiltered window into this unconventional person and presidential candidate and the crazy circumstances that had him rising to prominence.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Cinematic Slice of Life Drama: They Say Nothing Stays The Same (Virtual Cinema)

They Say Nothing Stays The Same has an idyllic setting mixed with wonderful music and nature sounds, driving home the central question of whether the cost of progress is truly worth it.  For more information, check out the review!

For An Asian Avenger Adventure: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Theaters)

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings kung fu kicks MCU Phase 4 into high gear, with a great Asian cast and focus on Asian culture, high flying action, and plenty of humor.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Gamer: Apex (Theaters and Digital)

Apex has a smart use of technology and a great cast, to create a bizarre, gory, and overall fun battle royale.

For A Masterful and Tragic Drama: Stillwater (Redbox)
Stillwater is a masterclass in storytelling, with stellar performances, a story filled with beauty and tragedy, and an amazingly complex journey that asks the viewer to experience it.  For more information, check out the review!

What to Watch This Weekend: Shang-Chi, Cinderella, Ted Lasso, Only Murders in the Building, No Man of God, Spirit Untamed, House of Hummingbird, Cruella

For An Asian Avenger Adventure: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Theaters)

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings kung fu kicks MCU Phase 4 into high gear, with a great Asian cast and focus on Asian culture, high flying action, and plenty of humor.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Fresh Take On A Classic Tale: Cinderella (2021) (Theaters and Amazon Prime)
Cinderella is a fresh take on the classic tale, with a wonderful remixed soundtrack, more independent leading lady, and plenty of smart updates to bring the classic tale to life.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Comedy Show With Extra Drama: Ted Lasso S2E7 (Apple TV+)

With things turning around for Richmond, it’s time for everyone to work on their issues—like Ted’s discomfort, Nate’s confidence, and Roy’s attention.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Hilarious True Crime Comedy: Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

Only Murders in the Building is an enjoyable series that will appeal to comedy and true crime fans, with a wonderful dynamic between the leads, great cameos, and a story with plenty of twists and turns.  For more information, check out the review! 

For A Compelling True Crime Drama: No Man of God (Theaters and Digital)

No Man of God is an unexpectedly deep exploration of Ted Bundy and FBI profiler Bill Hagmaier, with compelling and chilling performances and a wonderfully rich conversation focused story.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Kids: Spirit Untamed (Redbox)

Spirit Untamed rides into Redbox with a fun, rebellious cast of characters and a story for equestrian and adventure lovers to enjoy.  For more information, check out the review!

Emotional Korean Slice of Life Drama: House of Hummingbird (Amazon Prime)

House of Hummingbird is like life.  It is a complicated, layered film but at the same time a simple exploration of a family in the midst of cultural change.  Like life, there is so much going on but Kim's amazing shot choice lets you just stop and appreciate what is happening in the now.  It is like family: messy, rough, emotional, but also beautiful.  For more information, check out our review!

For A Stylish Origin Story: Cruella (Disney+)
Cruella is a stylish, bold origin story and an unexpected surprise from Disney, with a marvelously wicked performance from Stone and a darker, more fashionable film from the House of Mouse.  For more information, check out the review!

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Review: Marvel's Asian Avenger Finally Jumpstarts Phase 4

Release date: September 3, 2021
Running time: 132 minutes
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Writers: David Callaham & Destin Daniel Cretton & Andrew Lanham|
Starring: Simu Liu, Tony Leung, Awkwafina, Fala Chen, Meng’er Zhang, Florian Munteanu and Ronny Chieng with Michelle Yeoh

Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. 

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a very good Marvel movie and a fitting way to kung fu kick Phase 4 into action.  The movie has a solid mix of interesting characters, mystery, fighting, and humor to make the relatively long runtime feel like it zooms by.  But first, the thing that is most enjoyable about this film is the clear Asian influences.  From the Asian cast (including some heavy hitting stars like Awkwafina, Ronny Chieng, and Michelle Yeoh), to the little bits of Asian culture and mythology throughout, it feels like care was taken to ensure a level of cultural appreciation.  And it was fun to see many facets, from an idyllic setting to the neon lit lights of Macau, this movie goes to many places and all of them are interesting.  

And Shang-Chi also makes sure to keep the action strong, with some really impressive fights throughout.  The film takes a while to establish itself before the fight sequences start, but when they do they are quite enjoyable.  There are hard hits and plenty of high flying action.  And to top it all off, the effects are top notch.  But the film also has a nice balance of comedy as well, which is helped by the presence of the hilarious Awkwafina and Ronny Chieng.  They both add plenty of humor to the overall story and make it so that a fairly serious story has moments of levity.  

And overall, this is just a great start to an exciting new phase in the Marvel universe.  I was not sure how they were going to follow up on Phase 3, and despite the strong start with Spider-Man Far From Home, the release of Black Widow made me concerned that perhaps Marvel couldn't get out from under the giant shadow that the main avengers left.  However, Shang-Chi shows that there are plenty of exciting stories left in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and that the roster of characters can be expanded even further.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings kung fu kicks MCU Phase 4 into high gear, with a great Asian cast and focus on Asian culture, high flying action, and plenty of humor.

Watch it.

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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is in theaters on September 3, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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Screening: See Marvel's SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS Early and Free

We have partnered with Marvel Studios for an early screening of the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings!  The film is coming to theaters on September 3, 2021, but you can check it out early and free!  Details and entry form are below!

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Cast:
Simu Liu, Tony Leung, Awkwafina, Fala Chen, Meng’er Zhang, Florian Munteanu and Ronny Chieng with Michelle Yeoh

Director:
Destin Daniel Cretton

Producers:
Kevin Feige, Jonathan Schwartz

Executive Producers:
Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Charles Newirth

Screenplay By:
David Callaham & Destin Daniel Cretton & Andrew Lanham

Synopsis:
Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. 

 Screening Info:

SHANG-CHI

Wednesday, September 1st

7:30pm

AMC Tysons Corner

Screening Pass Link!